Getting Prepared at Home and Work JoAnn Jordan Emergency Preparedness Education Coordinator City of Seattle Emergency Management

Did You Know??????  Washington State has the 3rd highest threat of earthquake in the United States.  The Puget Sound area has 4 different types of earthquakes that can strike at any time.  The Puget Sound area already has nearly 1,000 earthquakes each year. Earthquake Preparedness

It’s Not Just Earthquakes Earthquake Severe weather Fire Hazardous material Spill Terrorism Bird Flu - Pandemic What do these all have in common?  City services may be overwhelmed  You’ll need information  You may have to be on your own for a minimum of 3 days  You’ll want to get in touch with those you care about  You may have to evacuate your home or neighborhood or workplace

Prepare for consequences, not specific disasters To keep from getting overwhelmed, focus on the consequences and impacts of an earthquake or other disasters and you’ll find there are a few basic preparedness measures that covers all disasters. Get Ready to respond to the consequences before they happen! Preparedness = Empowerment

What are the consequences or impacts of a disaster? Extended disruption to infrastructure carries the most impacts. Utilities - Water, Sewer, Electricity Road Ways and Bridges Telephone Emergency Response Agencies may be overwhelmed immediately following a moderate to major disaster.

Step One: Get Ready! Teach your family and co-works how to be safe in an earthquake Drop Cover and Hold under a desk, table or counter Sit against an inside wall Get lower than furnishings (Beneath, Beside, Between) What If Game! What if I’m ……..

Get Ready: Stock Supplies Store a 3 day supply of food and necessities for you and your family.  Water  Radio and Batteries  Prescription Meds  Food  Flashlight & Glow Sticks  Eye glasses  Sturdy shoes  Comfy clothes What do I put my supplies in and where do I put it? Have a smaller kit in your car and at work.

What skills will you need to take care of yourself, your family, your neighborhood, your co-workers? Fire evacuation planning Learn how to use a fire extinguisher First Aid How and when to control utilities Reduce earthquake hazards  If it would break and fall and hurt someone  If it would break and fall and block an exit

Step 2: Have a plan Communications plan  Long Distance phone lines are more reliable than local lines. Have a point of contact for your family who lives outside of Washington State to relay information to each other. Reunion Plan  If you can’t get home, where would you stay?  If you can’t get home, where would you meet? Ask questions about the disaster plans for your children’s school/daycare or your parents retirement community. Make sure everyone knows and understands the your plan. After a disaster, Please stay off all phones for a minimum of 4 hours.

Practice your plan If you never practiced “drop, cover and hold”, the likelihood of you performing this “Quake Safe” action when the earthquake shakes is only about 10%. Every time I practice, I double my chances of doing drop, cover and hold when the real earthquake happens!!

Step 3: Get Organized The key to successful response is working together!

Getting organized Response Tasks:  Controlling utilities  Simple search and rescue  Damage Assessment People Tasks:  First Aid  Shelter  Communications Outline the details  Where’s the gathering place both inside and outside the buildings?  Who will be in charge?  Where are the utilities located?  Who might need some extra help?

Benefits of getting organized  You, your family and your co-workers become better prepared.  You get to know each other.  You can save time and money working together.  You increase efficiency of responding to the immediate needs following a disaster.  You have peace of mind knowing that you are able to take care of yourselves.  It’s Fun!

Want More Information? Call Seattle Office of Emergency Management at

Get Prepared for 3 Days in These 3 Ways Step 1: Build a kit for home & work  Water  Radio  Food  Prescription meds  Light sticks and flashlights  Clothes  Cash  TP  Pet supplies and crate Step 2: Plan with your family  Fire evacuation plan  Disaster reunion plan  Communications plan choosing an out of area point of contact as a way to connect with each other in disaster Step 3: Learn Skills  First aid  Utility control Start Now!